The Santa Barbara Independent

Forty Years of ‘Santa Barbara Independent’ Cover Stories

Cover Story By Indy Staff

The Santa Barbara Public Library’s Faulkner Gallery is hosting an exhibit to celebrate our anniversary year.

Lompoc Councilmember Resists Calls to Resign as Criminal Case Proceeds

Courts & Crime By Tyler Hayden

A Santa Barbara County judge will rule this week if Steve Bridge will go to trial on 10 felony counts of theft and fraud.

Judge Rejects Green Party Candidate’s Bid to Appear on California Governor Ballots

Election 2026 By Yue Stella Yu, CalMatters

Rudolph “Butch” Ware, an associate professor of history at UC Santa Barbara who wants to be governor, argued that the Secretary of State’s office inappropriately disqualified him even after he filed the necessary tax documents.

‘Unnecessary Farce’ Brings Some Necessary Laughter to Santa Barbara

Theater By Maggie Yates

Lighthearted, physical comedy is technically complicated as doors slam, pants fall, and justice is pursued.

Let the Voters Decide on Rent Stabilization

Opinion By Jennifer Berger, 2026 President, Santa Barbara Association of Realtors

Rent stabilization is not simply about setting a cap on rent increases. It requires a permanent administrative structure including staffing, hearings, enforcement, compliance monitoring, and ongoing program management. How will that be funded?

Deltopia Weekend: Public Safety Reminders, New Ordinances, and Enforcement Plan

Announcement By County of Santa Barbara

Restrictions in place Friday, April 3 through Sunday, April 5.

Sable Offshore Announces First Sale of Oil, Restart of Second Platform in Santa Barbara Channel

Energy By Nick Welsh

The announcement comes as the Houston oil company is scheduled to be arraigned this Wednesday in Santa Barbara Superior Court on 21 criminal charges for violating state and federal environmental law.

Paintings by Michael Vilkin at ART & SOUL GALLERY

Thu, Apr 02 5:00 PM

Santa Barbara

Mesa Harmony Garden Spring Plant Sale

Sat, Apr 04 9:00 AM

Santa Barbara

Journey Within: Wisdom & Meditation with Gurudev

Thu, Apr 09 7:00 PM

Santa Barbara

Music & Meditation SB – Concert April 10, 2026

Fri, Apr 10 2:00 PM

Santa Barbara

S.B. Rescue Mission Annual Easter Feast

Thu, Apr 02 2:00 PM

Santa Barbara

Exhibit Opening: The Santa Barbara Independent: ‘Covering 40 Years’

Thu, Apr 02 5:00 PM

Santa Barbara

Ensemble Theatre Company Presents “A Night with Janis Joplin”

Fri, Apr 03 2:00 PM

Santa Barbara

Filipinos’ Contributions to Once Making Lompoc…

Fri, Apr 03 5:00 PM

Lompoc

Lahaina: Voices of Change

Fri, Apr 03 7:30 PM

Santa Barbara

Mesa Harmony Garden Spring Plant Sale

Sat, Apr 04 9:00 AM

Santa Barbara

Passport Fair, hosted by Congressman Salud Carbajal

Sat, Apr 04 9:00 AM

Santa Barbara

The Great Egg Hunt

Sat, Apr 04 9:30 AM

Santa Barbara

Classical Guitar at Art & Soul

Sat, Apr 04 5:00 PM

Santa Barbara

multimedia Stories

UCSB Arts & Lectures ‘Air Time’: Frederik Øland of the Danish String Quartet

Audio

A conversation with Charles Donelan.

Agents of Chaos: Border Patrol’s Year of Unchecked Force

Border Patrol agents have been roving from city to city over the last 15 months, far from their home bases

Emergency Podcast: The Trump Regime’s Shock Move to Ram Offshore Oil through S.B., and State’s 11th-Hour Bid to Stop It

Video

In a special ‘Newsmakers TV’ episode, ‘Independent’ columnist Nick Welsh reprises his exclusive reporting about the fast-moving Sable Oil story, as California faces off with Trump amid war with Iran.

Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Profiles Santa Barbara’s Hannah-Beth Jackson

Video

In her interview, Jackson describes her decades-long ambition to pass equal pay legislation and how Oscar-award winning Patricia Arquette “lit the match” under her efforts as a California state senator.

Goleta Punk Show Raises Money for Undocumented Families

Video

Desmadre Media hosted the event, which took place at Foundation Press in Old Town Goleta on February 28.

Shaping S.B. Response to Regime’s Deportation Raids: ‘Fear by Design: ICE Tactics, Impact, and What We Can Do About It”

Video

Next Monday, a special public forum convenes amid ongoing attacks by Trump’s masked paramilitary agents on local neighborhoods, families and those bearing witness, presented by Dem Women of S.B.

UCSB Arts & Lectures ‘Air Time’ | Tiler Peck: Curating the Jerome Robbins Festival

Audio

A conversation with Charles Donelan.

UCSB Arts & Lectures ‘Air Time’: Jon Cleary of Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen

Audio

A conversation with Charles Donelan.

Waves Crash over Santa Barbara Breakwater

Photo

Photographer Dave Everett captured the tall waves at the Santa Barbara Harbor Breakwater on the morning of February 17, as the surf and tides reach a peak with the new moon cycle. “Those who dared to take on the breakwater this morning … got wet,” Everett said.

One Last Look at the 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Photo

A photo recap of the 41st edition of SBIFF.

Arts & Entertainment

Italian Symphonic Maneuvers, with Accordion in the Mix

Music By Josef Woodard

Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘Bella Italia’ program leaned into Italian fare, including an impressive new accordion concerto featuring virtuoso accordionist Hanzhi Wang.

‘Unnecessary Farce’ Brings Some Necessary Laughter to Santa Barbara

Theater By Maggie Yates

UCSB Arts & Lectures ‘Air Time’: Frederik Øland of the Danish String Quartet

Audio By Charles Donelan, UCSB Arts & Lectures

Stage Set for Soltopia to Replace Deltopia in Isla Vista After County Crackdown

Community By Christina McDermott

UC Santa Barbara Brings Ibram X. Kendi to Talk About Race, Great Replacement Theory

Politics By Ryan P. Cruz

More Arts & Entertainment

Food & Drink

Bodega Flower Girl Curates Contemporary Corner Store Vibes

Food & Drink By Matt Kettmann

Santa Barbara’s culinary scene veteran Emma West Roldan is now selling prepared foods, picnic supplies, paper towels, and much more on West Gutierrez Street.